I was looking forward to improved MPG after some upgrades. Forget it...no improvement.

$258.50 BUY VOLANT CAI
$194.68 INSTALL CAI

$445.50 BUY MAGNAFLOW EXHAUST
$123.03 INSTALL MAGNAFLOW

$1,021.71 TOTAL UPGRADE

ORIGINAL CITY GAS MILEAGE: 320 MILES PER 21.5 GALLONS OF REGULAR
320 MPG divided by 21.5 = 14.88 MPG

AFTER UPGRADES CITY GAS MILEAGE: 320 MILES PER 21.5 GALLONS OF REGULAR

 

So a total return on your investment of zero?

 

Anyone who thinks a CAT back exhaust will gain them mpg is usually mistaken. I'm sure there are rare vehicle applications where a miniscule measurable difference may be seen, but the real reason for a CAT back system is the sound. A cool exhuast note is what you get, with dual tips out the back of the H3.

With a nearly 5000# vehicle, I highly doubt you can "feel" any improvement with the old butt dyno by a CAT back, but higher flowing exhaust usually means more air out, more air in.A guestimation: a CAT back for the H3 will get you 2-5 HP tops, and it takes over 10HP to really feel anything with the weight of the 3.

When you add to that an intake, theory is you take advantage of both together in complimentary fashion. Theory is one thing, real world is another. [&o]

geegee, you got a good price on the MagnaFlow,and they are very easy to install. I would have expected your 14.88 to round up over 15Mpg? but.....I have no personal experience with a Volant Intake so IDK. I like the looks of the Volant box, but for the life of me I can't figure out what it is supposed to do in the air flow departmentbecauseit has a (second)opening in the engine compartment??? I do not like their relocation of the MAF that far from the filter. I do know their quality is good.

 

why did you pay to get the cai put on? that would have saved you almost 200 right there

 

Still would have been no real performance improvement.

 

I have the AirDoc intake with Airaid filter, TBS, no muffler and while I thought I had gained some MPG. Not really, I'm averaging around 13-14 MPG. It does fell faster off the line (by the butt dyno as Doc calls it), it feels like it runs smoother. But, I have no real numbers other than that.

Do I regret doing any of it? No

 

geeggee, I saw your post over on the other forum but neglected to ask: What exactly were you expecting?

You are obviously upset that these recent mods have not lived up to your expectations and I can understand that.

However, I haven't seen you state in a measurable way, what exactly you were expecting as far as increased MPG.

To paraphrase one of the folks over at the other site, these are more performance mods than anything else. Any increase
you see in MPG will be a by-product of the engine running more efficiently. Again, I also have to ask, how long have
the mods been in place? Has the computer had time to adjust yet to the increased air intake and smoother exhaust?
Perhaps the answer for you can be found in a different PCM tune that will allow you to take better advantage of the
new CAI and Catback.

Now..... others on here are probably sick of seeing this, but here are my MPG numbers--pre and post Air Doc CAI install.

Miles Gallons Average Actual Miles to Date
301.00 20.78 14.00 14.48 6023
255.50 18.91 13.00 13.51 6278
170.00 12.67 13.00 13.41 6448
263.70 18.64 14.00 14.14 6712
284.10 20.13 14.00 14.11 6992
263.10 18.86 13.00 13.95 7259
[size=3][font="times new roman"]233.10 16.39 &nbsp

 

Sorry geeggee but I have to agree with the others on this one. I’ve changed the air intake and exhaust on every vehicle I’ve owned only for performance purposes, never expecting any fuel gains. And I always felt a difference with just the intake & exhaust upgrade.

I did the same thing on my 08’ Alpha with a custom Flowmaster SS dual exhaust, PCM tune but I’m waiting on the AirDoc intake for the Alpha, all for performance and if by chance I get an extra MPG or two that would be great. But like everyone keeps saying since doing the upgrades my fuel mileage is suffering because now I can’t keep my foot out of it!

 

Is this a tarp???? seriously

 

You may not have gotten any better gas mileage, but for sure you got some performance, and a hell of a lot better sounding engine